Rubber-pad horseshoe.



No. 657,718.: Patented Sept. 11, I900.

E. A. wlLcux.

RUBBER PAD HDBSESHOE.

(Application filed. Aug. 17, 1899.) (No Model.)

ICLG: I

UNirnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER A. WILCOX, OF DAVENPORT, IOWVA.

RUBBER-PAD HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 657,718, datedSeptember 11, 1900.

Application filed August 17, 1899- Serial No. 727.474. LN'o model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER A. WILCOX, a citizen of the United States,residing in Davenport, in thecounty of Scott and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Pads for Horses Feet, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of pads adapted to be used assubstitutes for horseshoes; and its nature will be fully understood fromthe description thereof given below when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of ahorses foot provided with my improved pad. Figs. 2, 3, and i arerespectively bottom, top, and side views of the pad enlarged fromFig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 5 5 and 6 6,respectively.

My improved pad A is preferably made from a good class ofrubber,substantially such as is now used in heel-pads for mens shoes.Itcovers the entire hoof and is recessed at B to give room to the frog.It is secured to the hoof by a series of nails G, driven through the toeand side portions of the pad into the hoof and clenched in the ordinaryway. The nails, however, differ from the ordinary nails in that theyhave broad heads, as clearly shown. To receive the nails, the undersurface of the pad is recessed, as shown at D, such recesses extendingnearly through the pad and being just large enough to receive the nails0. Above the recesses D are smaller openings E, adapted to permit theentrance of the bodies of the nails. The under surface of the pad isalso provided with numerous other recesses F, extending, preferably,about half way through the pad, and it is expected that these recesseswill when the pad is in use become filled with dirt, compacted andhardened by pressure and. blows, and that such hardened and compacteddirt will assist in preventing the horse from slipping, especially onWet smooth pavements when the rubber is not effective. Of course therecesses D below the nail-heads will become similarly filled and act inthe same way as recesses F.

Around the outer edge of the pad the upper surface is slightly raised,as at H. This is to insure the pad hugging the hoof at the edge sotightly that no dirt can enter between them. The nailing of the pad tothe hoof near the raised edge will insure this result. I also preferthat the pad be bent, as seen at G, Fig. 4. The heel is thus caused toin cline upward slightly and to keep closer to the hoof back of thenails than it otherwise would.

A pad of the kind set forth does not pre vent the natural expansion ofthe hoof, as does a metal shoe.

While I have described the recesses D and F as being adapted to holdaccumulations of dirt, intending thus to distinguish them from merecorrugations or roughnesses commonly employed to prevent rubber shoesfrom slipping, it will be understood that they will also act as a meansof increasing the non-slipping character of the pad by engagingroughnesses of the roads surface much in the same manner as a corrugatedpad would engage them.

I claim- 1. As a substitute for a metal horseshoe, a rubber pad coveringthe bottom of the hoof and secured thereto solely by nails passingthrough the pad into the hoof, and said pad having its heel curvedupward and adapted to be straightened out when applied to the hoof, sothat the natural spring in the material will keep the heel closely andsecurely against the hoof, substantially as specified.

2. As a substitute for a metallic horseshoe, a rubber pad covering thebottom of the hoof and secured thereto solely by nails passing throughthe pad into the hoof, and said pad having its side edges thickened soas to maintain a close contact with the hoof and thus prevent theentrance of dirt between the hoof and pad, substantially as specified.

ELMER A. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

L. E. CURTIS, EDW. S. EVARTS.

